James Elementary shut down while police chase suspect

James Elementary was placed on lockdown for about 35 minutes Monday afternoon while law enforcement pursued a Portales man wanted for parole violation, according to police.

Marquise Cooper, 24, was captured a short time later in the 1600 block of South Avenue D, according to the Portales Police Department’s Lt. Kirk Wilson.

Though Cooper was not thought to be violent or a threat, Wilson said James Elementary was advised to lock the school down as a precautionary measure. Brown Early Childhood Center was also notified of the situation in case Cooper went toward that direction.

Wilson said the schools were notified because they were in close proximity to where Cooper ran from and wanted to make sure the schools were one less place Cooper could hide.

Cooper, who fled on foot from the 400 block of West 21st Street around 12:43 p.m., was arrested a little more than 30 minutes later, according to Wilson.